ETC677 Spring 2009

Common Question III: Most of people probably would agree that all instructions should have integrated online (distributed learning) technology. Do you agree or disagree? Why? Please at least provide three reasons with good literatures to support your arguments.

Thanks for the Wordle arts. Based on your Wordle art, explorary appears to be importnat. Please explain what it is and why it is important to distributed leanirng.

Chih, Using the "Find" tool in MS Word I found that the word "exploratory" occurs about 15 times in our paper; 12 times in the body of our treaties and 3 times in picture captions or references. As it relates to distributed learning environments, "exploratory" refers to one of the three constructivist pedagogical models (Dabbagh, 2005, p.184). It is important because of how predominant constructivism is in distributed learning. With in the Exploratory Learning Environment, learners are engaged in working through authentic scenarios or simulations of real world problems. Max,

Team 1 4: Powerful argument that was somewhat well articulated but could have been a bit more organized. Feedback: This is a review of the paper our own group created. Due to the "pieced together" format in which it was created, I still feel that it lacks a direct powerful argument which conveys an overriding message to the reader. However, the paper does cover the essential elements and addresses the required questions in each of the sections. It is well organized in an APA formatted style with appropriate headers which guide the reader throughout the text. The paper also provides several additional referenced sources to strengthen the arguments throughout. I think the paper is well organized. We probably could have focused more on a powerful argument for online learning.

If you would like to respond to someone's comments on the paper, you can intitiate a threaded discussion like of discussions, like the one here.

I changed the name of this page to include our respective sections. I posted mine as an attachment to Treatie Section III or you can click on the Updates tab to view everything that has been done. Max

My section is in here as an attachment

Common Question I: In the lesson, I will ask each group several common questions and specific question on your group treatise paper. These questions can be responded by any of your group members as an individual opinion or as group response. It is your group decision. Here is the first question. a. Please list five most critical elements of distributed learning "strategies" in distance learning.

There are many important learning strategies associated with distributed learning. There are 5 that I would consider to be the most critical: Collaboration - the opportunity to learn with and from others. Problem Solving - looking at and studying real life problems and finding solutions. Reflection - thinking about your learning. Articulation - verbalizing your thought, ideas, and learning. Exploration - the ability to learn about new things, new tools, new ideas.

Common Question II: How does WetPaint Wiki inhibit and/or enhance your group social interaction and social learning?

WetPaint Wiki enhances social interaction as well as social learning with groups because it allows groups to add documents to their group folder, edit them in the folder and there is an email sent to you to let you know there was a change done in your groups folder. You can create Wiki's to use for class discussions as well as working on individual projects and groups work. Wiki enhances the students learning by allowing a more hands on, interactive way of learning and creating assignments. Using Wiki's it allows students to be creative and enhance their technology skills. This is my first time using WetPaint and it was difficult at first, as anything new is, but once you work with it, it's easier each time.

Beth, Thanks for the responses! I see you addressed a few advantages of wiki work. How about disadvantages? Could you address some? Chih

Chih, A disadvantage of using wiki in the classroom would be if you are having students use wiki for homework, studying, or a project that needs to worked on at home not all student have access to a computer or internet. This would make it difficult for students. I know a lot of teachers who make assignments online allow students to come in before or after school or during free time to use school's computers. also, some school's might not allow the wiki site and it might be blocked. I know I tried to access at my school and it would not let me through. I am sure if I was to really use wiki in my class I could see about allowing access to the site but that also would be difficult if you are not able to have access. Beth

Beth, If I understand you correctly, we should allow students more time to engage in wiki activitites and be flexible with wiki as well. Correct?

I would say that the way Wetpaint or other wikis best enhance learning is through their collaborative abilities. Wikis make it easy to work on projects together - everyone can edit, add to, and share their ideas. They sort of add a real life element to online work. In real life work, each group member can add to or take away from the project. A wiki allows group members to do that digitally.

Suzanne, Great experiences in using wiki! Frequenly, I have heard students indicated wiki was a great tool for real world and authentic activitites. They have reservations on using it because they feel it could go out of control because the real world and auentic activitites frequenly are unpredictable. Wiki collaboration refer more time and more comittements. Do you feel the same way?

Chih, Real world and authentic activities can prove to be unpredictable and that is where the instructor/facilitator would play a part in helping the students to stay focused. And sometimes, that unpredictable nature helps us to see better ways to do things or other topics that need to be addressed. Yes, wiki collaboration can be more time consuming. However, our globalized society and research have shown the collaboration is extremely important today in all areas from engineering to education. The time we spend helping students learn how to collaborate effectively and efficiently would be time well spent.

Common Question III: Most of people probably would agree that all instructions should have integrated online (distributed learning) technology. Do you agree or disagree? Why? Please at least provide three reasons with good literatures to support your arguments.

I do agree that all (or at least most) instruction should include online technology. I am speaking pretty much from an elementary education standpoint but I think this also applies to secondary and higher ed also. One of the main reasons is student engagement. When teacher and/or students are using technology, especially online technology, students are more engaged. Well-known and respected educational researchers and theorists such as Hunter, Gagne, and Bloom even included engagement (anticipatory set, gaining attention) as part of the flow of a lesson. Our world has become so globalized over the past couple of decades and the development of online technologies has contributed to that as noted in the book The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman. In order for students/learners to be able to understand and use the Internet effectively for problem solving, collaboration, and communication we must include opportunities for them. One of the most emphasized 21st Century Skills is collaboration. It is one of the main skills being sought by employers today. As quoted by Dr. Tracy Gibbons of CoastWise Consulting: "The complexity of today's technology makes it impossible for any one person to know all of the intricacies behind a new product's design and development. Only 20 years ago, designing and developing a product were more of an individual effort, and organizational design centered on a hierarchical approach. Today, companies have to accept that rapidly emerging technologies, a global marketplace and an increasingly competitive and complex business environment demand workplace collaboration." The use of today's various online technologies (Web 2.0 tools) allows students and instructors to collaborate in ways that they have never done before and help to prepare them to enter a global workforce.

Thanks for the Wordle art! Based on this visual components, tools appear to be an important componenets in yoru paper. Please justify what the tools are and why they are critical?

Thanks for the Wordle art! Based on your Wordle art, I noticed "communciation" appeared to be one of important componenets in your treatise paper. Pleae justify why "communicaiton" is important.

Like everythin in life communication is key. It allows for people to be able to share ideas. Communication allows for students to get clarification on anything that they are learning as well as teachers to express their expectations. I think that in an online class or distributed learning environment, communication is essential. Sometimes instructions are not clear, so students and teachers need to communicate with each other to get that clarification. Communication is also a great way to assess student learning. This comment for example is me communicating with you on your question about communication.

I like the way that you framed the question: "Communication is also a great way to assess student learning. This comment for example is me communicating with you on your question about communication. " Based on what you describe, can we say communicaiton is learning?

I think that people learn by communicating. So I would say yes, communication is learning. By me passing on my knowledge or ideas to someone else and they understand it or never heard of my ideas, then they have learned something. My way of passing on that information is communication. So in the process of communication, people can learn.

Hi, I like the typeface you all used for your wordle art. How interesting how one can receive learning from this tool! :) MARY

Mary, I wonder how "typeface" can facilitate learning.